An Early Look at Resident Evil 6's Multiplayer DLC

Three new modes hit Xbox 360 in just a couple weeks.

I'll let that sink in for a second while I tick off some important details about the DLC. Prior to the game's release, Capcom announced it was preparing three new multiplayer modes for Resident Evil 6. These modes are exclusive to Xbox 360 for the time being, and will cost 320 MS points per mode, or 720 points for a bundle of all three. The DLC will be available to 360 owners starting December 18. There's no word when this content might become available elsewhere.

Back to dodgeball and Tetris Attack...

Survivors Mode

Survivor Mode is effectively the RE 6 version of death match. You can play in teams or free-for-all, but you're basically trying to kill your opponents. The catch is what happens when you die. When you're killed, you respawn as a zombie, and can still attack the opposition (much like some variations of dodgeball, which Capcom told me was an inspiration for this design). If you manage to kill a human in zombie (or J'avo) form, you'll be granted a second chance, and will re-enter the battle as your original character.

Check out this commentary for a better look:

Predator Mode

The Ustanak was one of the coolest parts of Resident Evil 6, and Predator Mode will finally let you play as him. Up to six people can play at one time, with one person taking on the Nemesis-like beastie, and everyone else trying to kill it. Though the mode is effectively 'Everyone vs. Ustanak,' all players are tracked individually on their score, which can go up based on a variety of actions, including saving allies.

Check out the commentary below!

Onslaught Mode

Inspiration for design comes from the most unlikely places. Take Onslaught Mode, which Capcom tells me was in part derived from Tetris Attack.

Wait, what?

Fundamentally Onslaught Mode is Mercenaries Mode with a critical twist, where you're trying to rack up a high score based on kills and combos you earn as waves of enemies attack you. The catch is you're competing against someone playing separately from you on the same map. Better yet, your accrued combos store up, and when they expire, they unleash more enemies on your foe. A match ends when time or your opponent expires, ratcheting up tension in a way Mercenaries never did.

I'm not the biggest fan of RE multiplayer, but this mode might change my mind. It's easily the best of the RE 6 DLC, and might be the best adversarial experience the RE franchise has presented thus far. We'll see how the final product plays, but so far I'm impressed. Check out the commentary below for more.

Rich is an Executive Editor of IGN.com and the leader of IGN's Nintendo team. He also watches over all things WWE, Resident Evil, Assassin's Creed and much more. Follow him on Twitter, if you dare!